Ciniz Walk-Through

A walk through the splendid city of Ciniz

Ciniz is an ancient city. Large part were burnt down during the end of the reign of Sevestyan "The Mad", how died in the Great Fire of 1600. The city has been rebuild in ultimate splendour. Here is a walkthrough for the tourist that wishes to visit the many highlights of this city.

The tour starts at the West Gate (1). This is one of the many gates of the city. It is situated on the main road from De Weslanan to De Erflanden. The gate has been widened many times due to increasing traffic. It now contains five doors, the largest is only openend on market dayes and when extremely large vehicles must pass. The gates are closed between sunset and sunrise.

Navigating through the busy traffic of the main street you take the first street to the left. This is an alley with many workshops. Goods can be bought here directly from the craftsmen. At the end of the alley turn right and then left. This is the University Quarter, the realm of scientists and students. The upper class lives here, and they have rooms to rent for the students of the Ciniz University. It was build in the spot where survivors of the Great Fire had build their slums.

At the end of the street, don't turn left or right, but walk into the street that heads for the University (2), a bit to the left. If you would enter the alley, halfway this street on the right, you would end up in the scientific botanic garden of the University, the place where many romances have started under the Kukjan bearing Albsfir.
The triangle-shaped square in front of the university is a place of historic events. It was here that many people gathered while their leader would be on the stairs of the university to tell them what to do. This was also the place where Yzabrân gathered his people in the uprising against the imperial oppression.
The well on the square is important to the freshmen of the university. It is seen as the remains of an ancient temple to Aaser, and a source of arcane knowledge. Freshmen are asked to drink from the well in a matriculation ritual.
The university is a building that is famous for its large stairs that go up to the huge front door. The stairs have served as seats for lectures given from the square, and as a stage when many students stood in the square. The windows of the building are famous too. The stained glass has pictures of the many sciences that are thought at Ciniz University. The building is public, you can go in as you like. In the basement is the library, the attics contain the administration and inbetween are the professors' cabinets and the lecture halls. On the southern side of the building is the University Tower for observation purposes and it also contains a gong that announces the start of the lectures.

From University Square you head to the Tower, corner it and take the first street to the left. On the left hand corner is a tavern named "The Library". It's famous for having not a single book (it's not allowed to take any in) and its large arrange of beers. It's cheep and frequented by students only. Many students live in this street, in the cheap dwellings that are let per room. Some facilities like the laundry-facility are also in this street. At the end of the street, you turn left, but if you wish to take a look at the right where you can see the laboratory of the university.

When you have turned left, turn left again and then immidiately to the right. You will have to cross a busy street before you can enter the Palace Gardens (3). If the gardens are closed, turn left until you reach the Main Square. You are leaving the University Quarter and enter the place that was rebuild first after the Great Fire.
The Palace Gardens are closed whenever the Count of Ciniz finds it appropriate to show guests around. They used to be closed for the public until Count Damiran opened the gardens in an attempt to show his people the beaty of nature. Plants in the garden are from everywhere in Daleth and contain also foreign plants, such as those that were brought here by Verenz "The Sailor" from Goodwater. You can walk through the gardens, and leave them at a small gate on the left, very close to the palace. You have to face busy traffic again, and turn right, and right again.

You are now on the Main Square of Ciniz. On your left hand, you see the facade of the Palace (4) with its many windows. The Palace has stairs like the Univerity, but they are not that high. On these stairs, Count Yzabrân pronounced independence from Ildritz in 1820 AFO. The Palace itself is not open to the public.
The Main Square has opposite the palace a row with shops and taverns. The best known tavern might be "The Rose and the Sword", a tavern where Count Yzabrân used to hang out when he was tired from his work at the palace. Rumours have it he has been spotted there recent, even though he's officially dead.
Every first day of the week the market takes place on this square. The marketmen find it pleasant to have their business under the large Abilras, where they can trade in the shade. They also have the taverns and the adjoining terraces nearby. Every national or religious festivity also takes place on Main Square.

On the east side of the Main Square is the Temple of Aaser (5). It used to be a Temple to the Four Gods, but priests found it more suitable to have the temple dedicated to Aaser, the Water God, alone after many floods of the Cin River had threatened the temple. They claim the water is now not as dangerous anymore. All four gods can be seen in the stained glass, though. This temple contains one of the few pictures of the perverse fire-god Phyarx with his flaming red hair. The legend has it that the artist used Count Conrad as a model for the god, but others say it might have been Conrad the Robber as well.
The temple can be visited anytime. Priests live in the houses neighbouring the temple.
The large hall of the temple is also in use for the market in winter and for large cultural events such as concerts, when they can't take place in the Palace.

When facing the temple, turn right to continue the tour. On the right is the Palace Garden (3), on the left you will the the appartments of the servants to the Counts. As you can tell by the details of the white facade and the large windows, this apartment-block has been build at the same time as the Palace. The original plan wat to make these apartments part of the Palace, but the servants said they wanted to respect the privacy of the Counts.
On number 157, Samber Herikszoon van Tîrgu lived with his wife Eimara, until they fled from Ciniz with Count Moriz.
At the end of the street, turn left, and then left again. You are now on the Cin Quay, parallel to the Cin River. Fishermens houses are on the left, and a quay is on the right. The building of the fishmarket follows on the right. Here the fishermen sell their fresh fishes, which can be a delicatesse.
Then you will see the back entrance of the Temple to Aaser on the left. This wasn't meant to be an entrance, but the priests wanted a direct connection with the flowing waters of the Cin. A little further you find the platform that is used by the priests to gain access to the river.

At the end of the quay, there is the Old bridge over the Cin River (6) leading to the East Gate. This is supposed to be the oldest part of Ciniz city, first a ford in the river, then a bridge. This is the direct road from Ildritz into De Weslanan, henche the importance of the bridge and the facilities to protect it, including Ciniz castle (that can't be seen from here).
A face of Aaser is visible in the side of the bridge. It is said touching the face brings luck on the journey, so the work of art is rather worn down.
The bridge used to be the finish of the White Mountain Run.

Turn to the left, and then immediately to the right again. You are now entering the part of the city that hasn't been burnt down in the Great Fire.
This is the part of Ciniz where you find all kinds of craftsmen, butchers, bakers, taylors, carpenters and so on. Most of them sell their goods directly from their workshops.
Take the second alley on the left to reach the vivid Market Square (7) that is the centre of this part of Ciniz. Goods and services are on sale here every day, but people from outside Ciniz city are not allowed to sell here anything, they should wait until the market on Main Square. Don't cross the square, but turn right at the corner. You will see a part of the city wall here. Walk up to it, then turn left and follow the wall. There have been plans to make a North Gate here, but the people complained, they didn't want a busy street through their quarters, and some said it would be a strategic error to make a gate here.
You will end up on a square that is rather notorious. Cross the square and leave at the corner on the far left. This street continues in a quiet street where Mr Berla of the Ciniz Army was murdered with a mysterious fire-arm. A monument for his memory has been erected here by Count Moriz. Don't enter that street, but turn left so you will have the large, two story building at your right side. This building is the Hospital of Ciniz (8). It is a place for the ill and the old, who cannot take care of themselves. The garden in the middle is used to grow healing herbs. The garden is free to enter and one can take herbs for personal use for free from it.

A little farther you will see the Temple of Gräins (9). This is the second temple of Ciniz. Both other gods, Vindel and Phyarx, have no temple in Ciniz city. The temple isn't very pretty with it's old stones, sooted by age, but in the summer seasons the temple is decorated with Gräins gifst: flowers, green branches, parts of the harvest. The poor can get some of it when there is a rich harvest.
If you want to stop the tour now, walk past the front of the temple, then to the right, back to the West Gate.

In front of the nothern tower of the temple, turn left into a narrow alley. The second house on the left is the Counts Court Bakery, once the old bakery of Count Moriz' father, now owned by the counts brother Bruno and Jupo. The bread should be very special here. Drop by and buy a "Counts Seal", a large cookie with the coat of arms of Ciniz printed in it. It is made with honey, kukjan and the finest aút from Ciniz, based on a Naglani-recipe.

You will see the Market Place again, but turn right where the street widens. At the end of this street, turn left. At the corner is the Ciniz Museum, a building with all things that show the history of Ciniz. It also contains some art and has a large collection of exotic things Conrad "the Sailor" has send to his brother from far away places.

Take the next street to the right, and then right again. The street you are now facing is known as Pleasure Werst because of the many taverns and pubs (that have there terraces on Main Square). It is near the end of the tour so you can stay here and enjoy the locale treats.

To end the tour where it started, walk through the Pleasure Werst and turn to the right at the end. Then turn left, you will see the West Gate again.

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